Bail-switch-locking device



1927. z. MOLNAR RAIL SWITCH LOCKING DEVICE Sept. 13

Filed Sept. 17. 1926 2 SheetS-Sheet 1 uw I 1 l La? [Se t. 13 1927. 1642 380 P z. MOLNAR RAIL SWITCMH LOCKINGVDEVICE Filed sept. 1v; 192e z sheets-sheet 2 a hv N 3 U MMIEI.. UN Umom' I. .N u... 4.. y II w .Qn N 47/ A' TORNEY Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UN'ITEDwsTATEs 1,642,380 PATENT orrici..

ZOLTAN MOLNAR, F PORT ROBINSON, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOROF ONE-FOURTH TO MIHALY SZABO CZORCBOY` `ANI) ONE-FOURTH TO HORACE A. FIFIEIJD, BOTH OF WELLAND, ONTARIO, CANADA.

RAILSWITCH-LOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed September 17, 1926. Serial No. 136,085.

This invention` relates generally to locking devices, and has more particular reference to a novel type oi? locking device for railway switches.

Theinvention has for an object the provision of an improved locking device for switch points, which will be exact and eiicient in operation.

For ,further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference willwbe had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the `various novel features ofthe invention are more particularly set forth.

Referring to the drawings forming a material part of this disclosure: p

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view `of a device constructed according to this "invention, said device being applied to a pairof rails and point-rails, shown in section.

Fig.`2 `is a plan elevational view thereof.

Fig, 3i is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--8 4of Fig. 2.

Figa is a fragmentary, partly sectional detail view of certain parts. Y

Fig. 5 is a `fragmentary enlarged plan view, with the cover of the locking chamber removed. f

. Fig. 6 isan enlarged fragmentarycentral vertical sectional view of the device, certain parts being shown full and others in section.` p i The reference numeral 10 indicatesja pair of rails, and the numerals 11 indicate` coacting pointrails of a switch. The rails 10 are held `down in a customary manner to the roadbed, andthe point-rails `11 switch to right or left by customary switching mechanism not shown on the drawings. The invention device locks the point-rails either to the right or left, so that the said customary switching mechanism cannot move thepointmails, either to the right or left while thus locked.

Clamp member 12 has a projecting tongue 12a engaged over the base of the rails 10, i and an extension 12b beneath the rail, formed with serrationson the upper face thereof. The rail clamp 13 has serrations on its bottom face, co-actable with the serrations on said extension 12", `and `grips over` the other sides ofthe bases of rails 10. The clamp rails are held in position by stud and nuts 14, said nuts being formed with several apertures 14a, and a rod 15 engages in one p f said apertures to lock the nut in posi ion.

The clamp member 12 on the right hand side of the drawings has a lead head 16 fastened thereto by means of bolts 17. One end of the rod is shown secured to the bottomend of one of the bolts 17. The clamp member 12 on the left hand side of the drawings has a casing 18 formed with a projecting lead head 19 fastened thereto by means of bolts 20. One end of the rod 15 is shown secured. to the bot-tom end ot one of the bolts 20. The casing 18 is formed by an upper and lower part held together bythe bolts 20 clamping projecting bosses 18a, 18b from the upper and lower parts respectively, and pivoted clamps 21 :from the upper part engaging a. latch 22 from the lower part.

Botatively mounted in leadhead 16 is a long locking rod 28, which also projects rotatively into casing 18. Similarly a short locking rod 2a rotatively projects from the other side of casing `18. The outer ends of these locking rods are formed with latch pieces 25 having straight extensions 25, and heel formed pieces 25h. rThe latch piece 25 on the right hand side of the drawings is turned with its heel jformed piece 25b upwards, abutting the outer side of the point rail 11, while the latch piece 25 on the left hand side of the drawings is turned with its straight extension 25a upwards, abutting the inner side ot' the point-rail 11. The inner end of short locking rod 24 is formed with a groove 24a, engageable by a tongue' 28a formed on the inner end of long locking rod 23 to hold these rods in relative positions. A nut 27` threadedly engages the ends of these rods to fasten them in longitudinally adjusted positions. The nut 27 is formed with external teeth 27a, capable of meshing with a gear segment 28 engaged to a rod 29, and pivoted as at 8O to a bracket 31, fastenedV on top of casing 18. The bracket 31 is formed with a groove 81a in Ywhich a slide 32 operates.

The long locking rod 23 has formed there- `on an enlarged portion 33, having front projecting arms 811 between which a handle 35 is pivotally fastened. The casing 18 has depending lugs 86,' and the handle-35 may be swung parallel to the rod 23, so that the bottom of the handle'engages between these lugs to lock the rod in certain positions. The inner side of enlarged portion 33 is formed with a circular flange 33a having a piece cut off so as to form a straight edge, indicated in the drawings at 33h by the side projecting less than the other side.

1illithin the casing 18 are two locks, one on each side of the locking rods. rlhe key for the lock may be inserted through keyhole 40, and latch members 41 suitably'connected with the'end member 42 'maybe pushed back so that the end member engages against the straight edge 33h preventing a turning of' the locking' rods-23,24. The latch members 41 are formed with slots 41a through which screws'43 are guided allowing certain movements of the latch member. A snpport 44 is secured screws 43 to the casing 18, and is provided with project-ing pins 45'. Springs 46 are welded against the vbottom of the top pins 45, and press downward ontop of the latch members 41 to frictionally hold the latch members in various positions as'moved by the key,'the latch members being only laterally slidable due to screws 43 and slots 411.' A .suitable key may be inserted through tlie key holes 40 using the lbottom'pins 45 as afpivot point, and the latchmembers 41 are out out s indicated at 41 so that theA key may slide the group of latch members together with'the end members 42 backwards and forwards into and'out of locking` position. The latch men'ibers 41 and the end members 42 are held against lateral'displacement since they slide between the supports 44' and the side of the casing the end members 42 being. provided witli'side members 42 for this purpose. rlh'e side members 42 are pi'ovided with end extensions 4271 formed with slots 40 having a central bulge 40h. The flats 40C of screws 40d engagev in the slots 40 and these flats are of greater length than the width of the slots so that the screws cannot be turned unless the key inserted in keyhole-40 is partly Vturned to move the end extensions 42a' slightly so that the flats 40c are turnable in the bnlges 40'. In Figure 5 one of the screws 40d is shown in section below the fiat 40, vhile the other shown in` section through the flatl 40", though Aboth screws have the flats. These screws 40d serve to hold the top and bottom of casing 18 together in conjunction with latch 22. Anunauthorized person cannot open Jdie casing to tamper withl the locks therein, since the same keywhiclr eontro'ls the locks is necessary to.r afdjust end extensions 42a so that the bulges' 40 permit. the flats4'0" to turn, n

- is shown in Fig. 1I the' rail-points" 11 are lockid' to the left., Theliandle 35 maybe swri' i so that latchfpiec si are; in ahori- Zontal position. Then tlera'il-points 11 Apieces engage ble withth' Leases() be operated to the right, thereafter the handle 35 further swung sovk that the heel formed piece 25b on the left hand side of the drawings engages against t-he outer side of' the rail-point, while the straight extension 25a on the right hand side of the drawings engages against the inner side of the rail-point. Referring to Fig. 5, and looking towards the bolts 20, `the lock on the right side locks the latch pieces 25 as shown in Fig. 1, while if the latch pieces 25 are turnedand the switch rail-points thrown to the right, thereafter the 'latclrpieces'25 further turned to engage the rail-points, the flat'p-ortion 33k" will'now be on the left, and the left Ylock may be used toflock theparts. The distance between the latch pieces 25 may be` adjusted by'l the proper manipulation of handle^29- Disengage 23 from 24, by manipulating handle 29 so that nut 27 moves'o'nto r'od 2'4, make'the proper adjustment, and their reenga'ge these parts;l This manipulation of handle 291co'nsists iifplacing they handle o none side and so that segment 2SV engagesv nut teeth 27a, and then moifing the handleto 4the other side. 'lhereafter removingthe'handle and reengaging it in its'former position, and'again moving it, a'nd so von until the nut 27 is iovedonto rod 24, and'free from rod tongue 23. During the manipulation of handle '29, slide 52V4 is'usedto remove the handleY from the pivot point inl order to obtaina proper setting each'tim'e. The caretaker of the invention device normz'i-lly keeps the rod 29 and segment 28 in his tool kit. The device is operated without these parts.` Only at a time when the caretaker is adjusting' the di tance between the latch pieces are the said parts applied' to the device.

lVlnle l have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I. realize that in practice various alterations thereinL may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the detailsI of constrluctionlor otherwise altering the arrangement of theV correlated parts without departing from the spiritV or the scope ofl the appended claims'.y

Having thus described my invention. what l claim' as new and desire tio secure`V by United States Letters' ent is: i

1', AA. lock for railway switch points, comprising clamp members engaged toA the rails associated with said switch points, av lead head flX-ed to one of said clamp members. a casing with a projectingleady head fixed to the other of said' clamp members.,- ay long` and a` short locking' rod iotatively mounted in s fld leadheads and'casi'ng, said rodsbeing interengaged wit-hin the oas-ing by a nut threadedly engagingover ai groove in one ro'd' and a tongue in the other rod, the outer ends of saitv rotls being Aformed with latch r i v inner and outer switch points, means"for turnsides4 of said lll() llG ingsaid` locking'rods and means tor preventing the turning of* said locking rods.

2: A lock for railwayswitclipoints coinprising clamp `members engaged to the rails associated with *said switcn points, said clamp members being formed with endfrail clamps, a` lead h-eidiixed `to one ot said clamp members, a casing with a projecting leadhead `fixed to the Aother of saidclamp members, a long and a shortlockingi'odrotatively mounted insaid lead heads and casing, said rods being interengaged within the casing by a nut threadedly engaging over a groove in one rod and a tongue in the other rod, the outer ends of said rods beingformed with latch pieces engageable with the inner and outer sides of said switch points, means for turning said locking rods and means for preventing the turning ot said locking rods. l

3. A lock for railway switch points,`com prising clamp members engaged to the rails associated with said switch points, a lead head fixed to one of said clamp members1 a casing with a projecting lead head fixed to the other of said clamp members, a long and a short locking rod rotatively mounted in said lead heads and casing, said rodsbeing interengaged within the casing by a nut threadedly `engaging over a groove in one rod and a tongue in the other rodethe outer ends of said rods being formed with latch pieces engagcablewiththe inner and outer sides ot said switch points, means for turning said locking rods,` said meansI comprising an enlarged portion fixed to said locl ing larged portion,` and a handle `pivotally mounted between said brackets, and means for preventing the turningr of said locking j rods.

4. A lock for railway switch points, com prising clamp members engaged to the rails associated with said `switch points, a lead head fixed to one of said clamp members, a casing with a projecting lead head fixed to the other of said clamp members. a longl and a short. locking rodrotatively mounted in said lead heads and casing,said rods being interengaged Within the `casing by a nut threadedly engaging over a groove in one rod and a tongue in the other rod, the outer ends of said rods being formed with latch pieces engageable with the inner and outer sides of said switch points, means for turning said locking rods, said means compris ing an enlarged portionfixed to said locking rod, brackets depending from said enlai-ged portion, and a handle pivotally mounted between said brackets, the said easing being formed with lugs and the bottom of said handle being engageable between said lugs, and means for preventing the turning of said locking rods.

5. A lock for railway switch jpoints, comrod,` brackets depending from said en` prising'clanip members engaged to the rails associated with said switch points, a lead head fixed to one of said clamp member",

a casing with a" projecting lead head fixed lto'the other of said clamp members, a long and a short locking rod irot-atively mounted in said `lead heads and casing, said rods being interengaged within the casing` byV a nut threadedly engaging over aV groove in fone rod and a. tongue in the `otherrod, the `outer ends of said rods being fornied'iwith latch pieces engageable with the inn-er and outer sides ot said switch points` means for turn ing said locking rods and'means for pre venting the turning of said locking rods, said latter means comprising an enlarged portion fixed to said locking rod, a flange on the inner side of said portion, said flange being cut straight on one side, and a lock .having slidable members engageable against `interengaged` within the casing by a nut y threadedly engaging over a groove in one rod and a tongue in the other rod, a means for adjusting'- said nut, the outer ends of said rods being' formed with latch pieces en gageable with the inner and outer sides ot said switch points, means for turning said locking rods, and means for preventing th-e turning of said locking rods.

, 'i'. A loclr for railway switch points, comprising clamp members engaged to the rails associated with said switch points, a lead head iixed to one ofi' said clamp members, a casingl with a project-ing lead head fixed to the other of said clamp members, a long and a short locking rod rotatively mounted in said lead heads and casing, said rods being interengaged within the casing by a `nut threadedly engaging over a groove in one iod and a tongue in the other rod, a means for `adjusting said nut, said means comprising a gear segment and a handle removably and pivotally mounted to said casing, and said nut beingl formed with external gear teeth engageable with said gear seg`K ment, the outer ends of said rods being formed with latch pieces engageable with the inner and outer sides of said switch points, means for turning said locking rods, and means for preventing the turning ot said locking rods.

8. A lock for railway switch points, comprising clamp members engaged to the rails associated with said switch points, a. lead `head fixed to one of said clamp members, a

casing with a projecting leadliead fixed to Cil y the other of said Clamp members, a long'and a sho-rt locking rod rotativelymounted in said lead heads and Casing, said rods being intel-engaged Within the casing by ya nut tbreadedly engaging over a groove in one rod and a tongue in the other rod, a means for adjusting said nut, said means comprising a gear segment and a handle removably and pvotally mounted to said casing by means of a bracket attached to said casing, said bracket being formed with a groove, and a vgageable with' the inner and outer sides of said switch points, means for turning said locking rods, and means for preventing the turning of said locking rods.

In testimony whereof I have aixed my 20 signature.

ZOLTAN MOLNAR. 

